South East Queensland Hauliers
HOW SOUTH EAST QUEENSLAND HAULIERS DOUBLED ITS PRODUCTIVITY WITH ON-BOARD MASS MONITORING
South East Queensland Hauliers (SEQH) is one of Queensland’s most established and recognised hauling companies, offering container transport and logistics services to customers across Brisbane, Toowoomba and Sydney since the 1960s. As its focus turned towards growing the container transport side of the business, it identified a significant barrier to increasing productivity and streamlining operations.
Transport providers in Queensland operate under the jurisdiction of the Transport Operations (Road Use Management—Mass, Dimensions and Loading) Regulation 2005, which sets out the number and size of containers that can be carried into the Port of Brisbane. Under this jurisdiction, the largest vehicle permitted on the route between Toowoomba and Port of Brisbane is a B-double at 68 tonnes.
Regulatory challenges
For SEQH, these weight and vehicle combination restraints meant its trucks were making more trips with fewer containers, which was a significant hit to productivity.
“We were really keen to find a way to access the Port with two 40ft containers on [the vehicle] and come off the Port into the nearby suburbs,” Managing Director Brett Plummer says. “Because our export crates are 27 tonnes, two don’t go on a B-double. We wanted a solution where we could cart two at a time to improve our overall productivity.”
Integrating electronic monitoring
With several transport providers in Queensland facing the same issue, Teletrac Navman helped to create a solution. Working closely with the Queensland Government and Transport and Main Roads (TMR), the Interim On-Board Mass (OBM) program began.
Integrating electronic scales by a local supplier and Teletrac Navman’s certified in-vehicle unit (IVU), the solution was devised to provide jurisdictions with the assurance that transport operators comply with relevant permit conditions.
“To increase productivity, we wanted to enable our customers to run A-double vehicle configurations that allow them to carry two 40ft containers. This has never been permitted before,” says Teletrac Navman's Vice President – Transport Solutions Australia, Andrew Rossington.
“The idea was to have scales on the truck that monitor the load in real-time, meaning it’s accurate and automated weights can be obtained. The load can be monitored at every point of the journey, so from that point of view all parties saw the advantage of it.”
The power of geofencing
With the use of geofences, trucks can be monitored as they pass through certain areas. Back-office users are then able to check the vehicle and its weight-load, and take instant action when issues arise.
The most significant advantage for operators is that if registered for the TMR interim OBM program, A-Double vehicle combinations at 79 tonnes are permitted. Previous vehicle combinations could only operate at 68t, carrying a 40ft and 20ft container for export. This solution allows the user to carry two 40ft or four 20ft containers.
The concept was documented to the satisfaction of TMR, which approved Teletrac Navman’s Interim OBM solution. After a successful trial period, SEQH implemented use of the OBM in September 2010.
Enhanced customer experience
This monitoring solution has resulted in significant productivity gains. With over 30 vehicles in SEQH’s fleet are making use of the system. “We make sure we develop import and export solutions together, so we can reduce the inefficiency of running empty,” Plummer says. “Being able to carry two 40ft containers at once was critical.”
The OBM system offers savings across the entire supply chain, predominately due reducing the number of trips taken by up to 50 per cent. Customers can also save more than 40 per cent in ongoing fuel costs and greenhouse gas emissions, and on-road community safety is increased with fewer vehicles on the road. “The advantages have been significant, and the benefits don’t reduce over time,” Plummer says. “Our customers have certainly benefited from lower pricing which allows us to remain highly competitive.”